Rumbles: New figures show support for bus and cycle travel has been bumpy at best

Posted by Media Team | Updated 2019-02-27

The number of journeys made by bus dropped again in 2017 to 388 million, while the share of journeys by bicycle stagnated at 1.5% despite Scottish Government targets for it to account for 10% of all journeys by next year, according to figures published by Transport Scotland today.

“Sadly the figures published today highlight how little the Scottish Government is doing to promote active travel in Scotland.

“Rather than accepting the continuous decline in bus travel, Scottish Government ministers should be taking an active role in encouraging people onto buses. It is not good enough to punish motorists who have no other option but to drive. The proper way to encourage bus use is to improve frequency, reliability, convenience and fares.

“Promoting and improving active travel and public transport in our towns and cities is a win-win for all concerned, helping to improve local air quality and the health of the nation.

“The Scottish Government has failed to deliver on its own targets on cycling. There have been many opportunities to help people use other forms of active travel. For example, last year the Scottish Parliament backed a Liberal Democrat amendment calling for all school pupils to have access to cycling proficiency training.

“Since the SNP came to power the share of journeys made by bicycle has only increased by 0.7%. That just shows the complete lack of imagination in the SNP administration. Their 10% target now seems nothing more than another broken promise.”

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